Astaxanthin Side Effects

Current research finds little to worry about concerning side effects of astaxanthin

Regular users of dietary supplements like to be informed about the potential downside of the supplements they are considering taking. In this section we examine research on astaxanthin’s dangers or side effects.

WellWise has been unable to find any scientific information on astaxanthin side effects that could raise concerns about its use. Some information floating around the Web suggests that taking too much astaxanthin may cause a reddening of the skin (like drinking too much carrot juice has been known to cause an orange tinge, as it is also from the beta carotenes). However, we've found no scientific proof or studies on this.

Astaxanthin has been shown in vitro (that is in test tubes on cells) to reduce melanin, even though it is clear that astaxanthin, indeed, protects the cell's DNA from UV (sun) damage. So it is unclear the relationship between melanin and the UV protection.